The Witcher “Shaerrawedd” Spoilers Ahead
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The Witcher Season 3 Vol. 1 is a riveting conquest that doubles down on the notion of found families, and the first episode, “Shaerrawedd,” sets the course in exceptional fashion. For many people, this series is about monsters, epic battles, and adventures—for others, it’s about the found family trope and how effectively the series crafts its narrative around a delicious romance.
Geralt of Rivia and Yennefer of Vengerberg’s relationship is perhaps the highlight in its scalding adventure, creating an angsty ripple last season when it leaves them at odds. However, instead of pushing on that separation and harping on it, The Witcher’s “Shaerrawedd” uses the complications to its advantage, bringing to our screens an episode that feels like the best kind of fan fiction. Relationships boil down to trust, and Geralt naturally doesn’t trust Yennefer after everything that transpired last year. Still, the episode effectively shows how she earns his trust back and why it’s vital that the two fortify their bond to take better care of Ciri.
The Witcher’s “Shaerrawedd” Takes Yenralt’s Love Back to Its Root
In more ways than one, this episode is about Ciri, and by focusing on improving her magic, the episode effortlessly brings Geralt and Yennfer’s love back to the forefront by reminding the audience of their friendship. Their love works entirely because of the friendship grounding them, and for them to return to that place again, they need to reestablish themselves as companions who can trust each other. Yennefer’s letters, penned with “Your Friend,” do an intricate job of consistently cementing that Geralt should trust her because the letters prove it isn’t about them. It’s about Ciri.
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In a delicately balanced matter, The Witcher’s “Shaerrawedd” puts Geralt and Yennefer in a stunning escapade to match Taylor Swift’s “Snow On The Beach.” Flying in a dream, stars by the pocketful. You wanting me tonight feels impossible. But it’s comin’ down, no sound, it’s all around. (We’re all picturing the same scene here, right? Geralt’s awe-struck expression watching Yennefer and Ciri laugh on the ice?) The writers know exactly what they’re doing with a beat like this—as do the actors, the editors, and the director. A scene in this form promises that what’s to come from all the uncertainties is the slow, quiet restructuring of trust that stems from Yennefer’s persistence. She isn’t going to give up this time. Geralt could ignore her letters, but in the end, he trusts her wholeheartedly, understanding that her mistake was, in fact, a mistake—not something to be repeated.
When viewers see these slow, comfortable moments encircling back to their origin as friends, it’s easy to understand the depth of their adoration that much more. It becomes inarguably apparent in this episode that Geralt and Yennefer are meant to embark on this journey as paternal guardians to Ciri. This found family becomes more beautiful because fortifying their trust again will make it more seamless to protect Ciri. There’s a reason Season 3, Episode 5, “The Art of the Illusion,” continues to give us the two of them enveloped in each other’s embrace while simultaneously trying to figure out who’s the problem in the equation they need to solve. And none of that would feel as evocative if we didn’t spend an entire episode walking back with them.
Keeping the Three of Them Mostly Isolated Works to the Episode’s Advantage
Keeping Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri mostly isolated from other players in The Witcher’s “Shaerrawedd” works entirely to their advantage. The intimate focus on the three of them acting as a family gives us a clear view of how his relationship anchors each of them. For her powers to be at their strongest, Ciri needs to have a loving foundation to stand on and reach forward from. She needs to know that she’ll be protected through anything, which is exactly what we see unfold with Geralt and Yennefer taking care of her while they simultaneously work on themselves.
For a beat, The Witcher isn’t about monsters and threatening forces; it’s about a small family bound together by destiny and strengthened by their choice to orbit around each other. Despite everything in their past and all that lingers in their present, they choose to stay together—move and scale when their safe spaces are threatened because their trust in one another is the only haven they can rely on. Concurrently, even while Geralt doesn’t fully trust Yennefer, he trusts what they’re building together, making these fleeting moments significantly more impactful for the overarching story. The episode promises that no matter how the following seasons play out, the romance will be stronger than ever because of everything they unveil in these simple moments.
The Witcher Season 3 Vol. 1 is now streaming on Netflix.